Invitation for Public Comment on Washington 2020 Statewide Invasive Species Strategy

The Washington Invasive Species Council (WISC) was created by the Washington State Legislature in 2006 and tasked with providing policy level direction, planning, and coordination for combating harmful invasive species throughout the state and preventing the introduction of others that may be harmful. 

A cornerstone product of the council is  a strategic plan designed to build upon local, state, and regional efforts, while serving as a forum for invasive species education and communication.  The Washington Invasive Species Council Strategic Plan provides priorities, and direction and formalizes the council’s commitment to invasive species control and prevention.   

The WISC is seeking input from partners and the public on  a strategy for 2020-2025, which builds upon the  2008 strategy  and  2015 strategy  and clarifies  council recommendations and proposed actions.   All are invited to review the  draft 2020 strategy, and comment  by  e-mailing  InvasiveSpecies@rco.wa.gov  before December 10, 2020. The Washington Invasive Species Council will review and approve the updated strategy at the December 10 meeting  so implementation of the important and time-critical work may begin. 

Contact: Justin Bush, Washington Recreation and Conservation Office
Cell: 360-704-0973 
Email: justin.bush@rco.wa.gov

The information provided above was originally shared via the Nov 25th, 2020 WISC News Release

Public Hearing Scheduled for OISC Voting Process, Responsibilities & Duties for Chair and Vice-Chair

A virtual public hearing regarding the OISC voting process, responsibilities, and duties for Chair and Vice-Chair is scheduled for December 17, 2020 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM.  The proposed rule would define the voting process and the responsibilities and duties of the Invasive Species Council Chair and Vice-Chair as required in SB 445 from the 80th Oregon Legislative Assembly, 2019. You can find detailed information about the public hearing in the link provided below.

View/Download Official Notice

ODFW Talks Invasive Species with Council Member

On episode 33 of the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife’s (ODFW) Beaver State Podcast, you can listen to ODFW Invasive Species Coordinator & OISC member, Rick Boatner, talk about the invasive species he is currently fighting, the invasive species he is currently worried about, and more! 

Listen now here: https://myodfw.com/articles/beaver-state-podcast-episode-33-invasive-species

Survey about Invasive Species in a Changing Climate

If you are interested and/or have experience in invasive species management and climate change adaptation, please take 10-15 minutes to participate in a survey about invasive species in a changing climate. This survey will help shape the strategic agenda and action plan for the newly formed Northwest Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change (NW RISCC) Network.

The NW RISCC Network is a partnership of several regional agencies and organizations dedicated to helping practitioners address the nexus of climate change and invasive species, including plants, animals, and pathogens. The objective of NW RISCC Network and of the survey is to help practitioners within federal, tribal, state, and local agencies and conservation organizations integrate climate change science and adaptation with invasive species prevention, early detection, control, monitoring, and research activities.

As mentioned above, the NW RISCC Network is seeking input from individuals with an interest and/or experience in invasive species management and climate change adaptation. This includes scientists, resource managers, conservation practitioners, field crew personnel, fire managers, agency leads, agricultural specialists, and more. If you would like to participate, please complete the survey by November 25, 2020. Your responses will be summarized (without names) and shared with respondents. You are also encouraged to forward the survey to others who may be interested in participating.

Click here to take the Climate Change and Invasive Species in the Northwest survey.

Submit Your Comments: Vessel Incidental Discharge National Standards of Performance

The information below was pulled from The Federal Register: Vessel Incidental Discharge National Standards of Performance.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is accepting public comment on a proposed rule under the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA) that would establish national standards of performance for marine pollution control devices for discharges incidental to the normal operation of primarily non-military and non-recreational vessels 79 feet in length and above into the waters of the United States or the waters of the contiguous zone. The VIDA specifically includes aquatic nuisance species (ANS) in the category of nonconventional pollutants to be regulated through the application of best available technology and best practicable technology. ANS may be incidentally discharged or released from a vessel's operations through a variety of vessel systems and equipment, including but not limited to ballast water, sediment from ballast tanks, vessel hulls and appendages, seawater piping, chain lockers, and anchor chains. ANS pose severe threats to aquatic ecosystems, including outcompeting native species, damaging habitat, changing food webs, and altering the chemical and physical aquatic environment. Furthermore, ANS can have profound and wide-ranging socioeconomic impacts, such as damage to recreational and commercial fisheries, infrastructure, and water-based recreation and tourism. Once established, it is extremely challenging and costly to remove ANS and remediate the impacts. It has become even more critical to control discharges of ANS from vessel systems and equipment with the increase in ship traffic due to globalization and increased trade.

Comments on the proposed rule must be received on or before November 25, 2020. Submit your comments to the public docket for this proposed rule, identified by Docket No. EPA-HQ-OW-2019-0482, at https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. All submissions received must include the Docket ID No. for this rulemaking. Comments received may be posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. 

For more information on how to submit a comment, please visit: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/10/26/2020-22385/vessel-incidental-discharge-national-standards-of-performance.